Having to move within the next month..

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dtd87

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Joined
Jun 4, 2010
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693
Location
Seatac
About 4 months ago I made a post saying my dad picked up and left the family out of no where.. Well myself my girlfriend were able to maintain this house for quite a while but now it is to expensive.. I had a knee surgery 6 weeks ago and have just started rehab so I can't do as much as I did. So we have to move. So I need some advice on the following..

I need a check list of sorts to help me with moving the aquarium. I will probably be moving to a 1 bedroom apartment. So I need to know what I'll need to have to move everything safely. I have about 4 5gallon buckets.. a 10gallon aquarium.. a bunch of other stuff.. If anything else let me know.

Also if anyone can help me drill the 50 I have let me know, also instructions on how to make a conduit light fixture hanger.. I don't think i'll be able to screw it into the wall anymore.

ANY ADVICE would be of great help! Thank you

-Devin.


Also if this is in the wrong place.. mods please move it.
 
Ok so i will be moving in 2 weeks, I really need some sort of list. THANKS
 
When I've moved my tank, I've found that I can never have enough extra:

*pre-mixed salt-water: I usually set aside at least 25% of tank volume, buffered and mixed ahead of time (especially if you have a sand bed--plan that you're just going to dump the last few inches of water, because it will be nasty once the crud starts leaking out of the sand bed)

*ice-coolers: I think they work better than buckets for transporting live stock (line them with a big white garbage bags and you won't have to worry about sanitizing them before-hand.)

*heaters and air pumps: I like to wet-test my heaters overnight a few days before the move (I found a few heaters that were too hot in the coolers, but were fine when they were in glass tanks)--I like to make sure they're adjusted correctly before move day.

*Amquel+: Actually I've never had a bad tank-cycle after a move (but I still keep a fresh bottle on hand, just in case--nothing worse than trying to find Amquel on a Sunday night when all the good LFS are closed!)

*hands/people: the more, the merrier. (because it never hurts to have someone just standing around "supervising", helping to open doors, etc.--if i have enough strong buddies then my wife gets to supervise and that makes her much happier.)

*TIME: I've moved my 80 gallon tank twice and it's always taken me at least 1.5-3 days to reset it properly. (disassembling, transporting, reassembling, and stacking a new rock-scape always seems to take 1 day all by itself.)

Now I just plan that my tank is NOT going to be done in 1 day--and that some (or all) of my livestock is going to spend the night outside the tank--that's why I plan ahead and use coolers, heaters, air pumps, and extra powerheads. When I put any livestock in a cooler (or bucket) I always ask myself "can it spend the night in here? does it have the right heat/circulation/air, etc?**)

I find it much easier to go to bed early (knowing my corals are safe in a controlled and tested environment) rather than scrambling at midnight trying to get everything back into the tank. This allows me to get a full night's sleep (after a very busy day), wake-up, see the tank in the light of a new day and THEN I can decide how/where to place corals, or how i want to re-re-restack my rocks, etc. ;-)

(**If the answer is "no" then that cooler or bucket gets a big bright sticker put on it--to remind me to "open me first"!)
 
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I like the cooler idea as well. The fact that it has a lid will help you from losing water if it splashes. I personally would only transport and much water as you need to move your livestock. There is not much beneficial bacteria to talk about in the water column so you aren't doing yourself any big favours saving all the water you can. You'd actually be better off IMO, using as much new water as you can. This will work our well for you in a way as it is less water you would have to transport and also, a perfect opportunity to get rid of some nasties out of your tank.

Just a few thoughts and good luck with the move! Hope it all goes well and hope that leg is healing nicely. :)
 
yeah Im considering making up a good 20-30 gallons if I can.. to just put brand new water in the tank..
 
anyone know any glass shops in.. the seattle / burien area that can drill?
 
anyone?? I'm thinkin about keeping the HoB skimmer I have and running just a refuguium with with 50b.. new landlord says you can have up to a 100g display on the second floor. (apparently he has a 120 freshwater on the 2nd floor) and they had a contractor ok the weight.. Anyways I've been calling places and can't find anywhere to drill yet. It blows.
 
There are several guys on the site that have the means to drill your tank I'm sure someone will chime in soon
 
Yeah I've asked several times, I just don't want to be a bother.Most of the glass shops I've found only do commercial stuff. I'm just glad I get to keep the tank when I move.
 
Ewww planned on holding onto my livestock while I set it up so I should be ok, I've got a big rubbermaid for my LR and such. If I could fit the tank in my mustang I may make the drive just to get it done.
 
Still planning on it Devin. Just let me know when. If I had the tools I'd be happy to drill with you but that is something I unfortunately haven't purchased yet. Heck I have a 40B I've been wanting to drill for months and just haven't gotten around to taking it to someone or buying the stuff myself. I work for a glass shop that can drill it for me but the shop is way up north in Everett. If you don't get it drilled by someone here soon I might be able to take it up there on one of my trips up and get it done for you. They would make you pay but it would get done.
 
eww said:
Still planning on it Devin. Just let me know when. If I had the tools I'd be happy to drill with you but that is something I unfortunately haven't purchased yet. Heck I have a 40B I've been wanting to drill for months and just haven't gotten around to taking it to someone or buying the stuff myself. I work for a glass shop that can drill it for me but the shop is way up north in Everett. If you don't get it drilled by someone here soon I might be able to take it up there on one of my trips up and get it done for you. They would make you pay but it would get done.
Click to expand...

That would be no problem, this sunday we are going to take in our applications and pray we get into this place. I'll definitely let you know.
 
My father in law just built me a arm to hang my light over my solana. It secures to the stand and had an arm that suspends the light over the tank. I can send you a pic if you like.
 
bumping againnn? anyone know any glass companies who can make me some.. pieces for a 20l sump? or drive seattle area.. friend may be able to use his moms outback~~
 
I will have to make some kind of conduit hanging bar for my 150mh for the new stand since I can't screw it into the wall >.>
 
dtd87 said:
I will have to make some kind of conduit hanging bar for my 150mh for the new stand since I can't screw it into the wall >.>
Click to expand...

I've seen a few of these before (well people using them). If I can come across any of them, I'll post it up for you. :)
 
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